have you tried reseating the video card and checking the power led on the monitor?

 

Click this link :

No Power, No POST, No Video [ Dell™ Dimension™ 4200, 4400, 4500, and 4550 Desktops ]

 

Keep us posted....

Thanks for your response. 

 

I have tried reseating the video card.  I have not yet run a monitor self-test--I will do that tonight.  I do not have another machine to hook the monitor up to, and so I cannot rule a monitor or cable problem out at this point.  I do still have my old video card, and I will also try switching those out tonight. 

 

Thank you for the link.  That is the troubleshoot I have been working off of.  I have a solid green power LED and 4 solid green LEDs on the back panel, FYI.  The motherboard gave six beeps, at which point it suggests resetting the BIOS.   

 

The only reason I think it may not be a video problem is that when I power up the machine, I can hear the fans whirr and hard drive begins to operate, but then just stops.  But like I said, I can't rule out video yet.   

Thank you for your response.  I apologize--I was unclear.  In the same step I unplugged everything on the inside, I unplugged the monitor and keyboard as well.  With just the power supply and motherboard hooked in, I rebooted.  I counted six beeps, which, for one thing, tells me the motherboard is working. 

 

As you say, I cannot get into setup, and therefore have no opporunity to enter those keystrokes.  However, I will definitely try removing the battery as you suggested.  I have never done that before, but I will try that tonight. 

 

Thanks again.   

 

 

You might try it without the keyboard and mouse as well, especially if they are USB. If you get further into it then at least you know it's one or the other of them. I have seen them cause a no boot situation AND I have seen where having a USB device plugged in preventing a boot. Usually in that case, there is a flashing underscore cursor in the upper left hand corner.

 

Resetting the BIOS is not hard. One way is to remove the battery for a few seconds (power off and unplugged of course). The other is to turn on the Scroll Lock, the Num Lock, and the Caps lock. Go into the bios (F2 usually), and press CTRL F, CTRL E, CTRL D, then CTRL B to reboot. That is of course if you can get into setup.

 

Good luck!

 

Speedy

The problem is now fixed. 

 

I changed out video cards and still did not get a screen.  So, I took out the battery on the board for a while and returned it to reset the BIOS.  I put the original video card back on, and startup was normal. 

 

Thank you for your help. 

Actually, I believe your suggestion to reset the BIOS by taking out the battery is what fixed it.  I now have normal startup.  Thanks so much for your assistance. 

And then it failed again.  And, while trying to fix it, I tore one of those gray cords that go from the motherboard to the front of the box.  Now, there is no response to me pushing the power button.  I will nee to replace the cord, I am sure, and while I'm there I am going to buy a new battery.  Can you think of anything else I should buy while I'm at the store, besides a new computer?  :smileyvery-happy: